Page 7 of The Year of Us: July

Cory

Zane Ward looked every bit like the kind of person that someone like Kale Sheffield would know, even tangentially, as it turned out. We met in a cozy lounge with what I was assured would be good whiskey and comfortable chairs.

Zane stood to greet me, extending his hand to shake mine, the gold Chopard chronometer on his wrist reminding me of my bare one. I didn’t want my Rolex back. I liked it far better on Reese, but perhaps a replacement was in order.

“Mr. Callahan,” Zane’s grip was firm and warm.

“Please, call me Cory.”

“In that case, call me Zane. Please, have a seat and tell me what brings you to Los Angeles.”

The leather chairs were buttery soft and so comfortable that I could imagine having a couple of them in my new home. Whenever I found it. I wasn’t shy about my sexuality, but it was nice to know that my friends would never connect me with someone I would have a problem with.

“My boyfriend, actually. And Los Angeles itself. It’s a far cry from New York. Not that I don’t love the city, it’s just… maybe I’ve outgrown it. Maybe it’s outgrown me.” I gestured in the air as I tried to gather myself a little better. “You understand.”

“Perfectly, actually.”

A server appeared and we ordered a couple of drinks. Normally, I tried not to drink before noon, but I felt like the occasion called for one. Moving across the country was a big step for me and though I should be nervous, all I felt was excitement.

“So, tell me what you want in a home. Big. Small. New. Old. Pool. No pool. Attached. Single family. Condo.”

“I was thinking of Coldwater Canyon. It’s convenient to where I’ll be working and my boyfriend. I don’t want anything that screams money. Something understated would be preferable.”

I wanted Reese to like my home. More than that, I wanted it to be our home eventually or at least a step in that direction.

Our wealth gap didn’t bother me, but that’s because I was the one with the money.

Reese had sometimes seemed self-conscious about his apartment when he shouldn’t be.

Really, the only thing wrong with it was that it was, in fact, far too small.

Zane took notes on his phone and let me talk as our drinks arrived. I paused to take a sip before continuing.

“I don’t want something huge. A couple of bedrooms, a bathroom off the primary bedroom, and even a half bath for guests is enough. An outdoor space would be nice, whether it’s a balcony or a rooftop or a garden. I’m not picky.”

“What about amenities? A pool? A gym?”

“Optional. I don’t want a massive yard, though. I’m not a yardwork kind of guy. I need low maintenance landscaping.”

He flipped his computer open and tapped away at the keyboard.

“I have a few places that you might like. There’s a couple of townhouses I can show you.

That would fit your requirement for a small outdoor space.

There are some single family homes for sale that might be suitable, if a bit larger than you asked for.

And there are some condos available in that area too. ”

Zane kept typing for another moment, then he stopped and took a sip of his drink. “Now here’s the question everyone dreads. What’s your budget?”

“I don’t have one. As in whatever you show me, I’m confident I can afford it. Maybe try to keep it in the seven figures range.”

Zane smiled. “That certainly makes my job easier.”

“And I don’t want to see any empty lots or fixer-uppers. I’m looking for a short closing date as well, and I’m willing to pay extra to speed the process along when I find the right place.”

“Ah, a man with motivation. I can work with that.” He drained the rest of his drink then closed his computer.

“I’ll make a list of places that I think might interest you the most and I’ll have that to you in a couple hours.

If you see something you like, drop me a line and I’ll arrange a viewing at your earliest convenience. ”

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I’d hoped it was Reese, but it was Kale, wanting to know if I’d found my dream home yet. I rolled my eyes and tucked my phone away.

Zane and I talked a bit more about requirements, things like proximity to schools—not important—and if I’d consider other neighborhoods. I said I would, but that I wanted to keep close to where Reese lived.

Zane slipped his computer into his bag and zipped it shut. “I think I have everything I need to get started.”

He pulled a card out of his wallet to pay for the drinks.

“Let me.” I started to reach for my wallet, but Zane shook his head.

“One, it’s a business expense. Two, my commission isn’t going to suck.”

I decided then and there that I liked Zane. Maybe after the business portion of our relationship was over, we could move on to being friends. We stood at the same time and Zane shook my hand again.

“It was a pleasure meeting you, Cory. Thanks for reaching out.”

“Thank you for squeezing me into your schedule on such short notice.”

I only had a few days before I had to get back to work on the Los Angeles project, and I hoped to spend as much time with Reese as I could before then. With that in mind, I pulled my phone out and shot off a text asking where he was and if he and Morgan would mind terribly if I joined them.